SMW: We’re planning a fully realized lifestyle brand, including textiles and decorative trimmings, a selection of upholstered furniture, and also a collection of antiques and home accessories (cashmere throws, 19th-century tartanware boxes, decorative pillows and more).

We’re excited that our textiles are imported from Scotland from a mill that dates to the late 1700s. Our furniture collection is being produced here in the San Francisco Bay Area, which gives me the opportunity to keep a very close eye on all of our furniture products.

MI: Furniture is a pretty wide-open category. What will yours be like?

SMW: We’re going to focus on upholstered seating — sofas, dining chairs, reading chairs — inspired by Edwardian aesthetics. I’m planning a great deal of lush leather tufting, hand-carved details, nailhead edges, and bullion trim. As well as our seating collection, we will be offering a variety of upholstered headboards. We’re working to keep our proportions luxurious, but still very usable in both smaller and larger homes.

MI: How will the collection differ in style and price from, say, your former place of employment, Ralph Lauren?

SMW: Ralph is always the master of creating a completely enveloping environment with each of his collections, whether inspired by an English manor or a French seaside cottage. We’re really going to keep a much tighter focus on our design. My strength as a designer has always been our classic masculine interiors, so I really want SMW Home to be your first thought when you need to create a men’s study and library. Pricing is still an ongoing discussion, as we are still approving textile samples and furniture prototypes for the collection. I want the line to be competitive, but we’re not looking to be the least-expensive option. More like we’re looking to be the best.

MI: Your style seems to embrace things that are preppy and traditional with things that are chic and sexy. How do you make that work?

SMW: I often describe the spaces we design as a combination of the gracious and traditional “expected” mixed with some whimsical element of surprise. Too often a traditional space begins to feel dated, but adding a few modern accessories, lighting or artwork keeps a room existing in the present. The juxtaposition of old and new will also give a space a certain amount of energy and drama. It’s a delicate balance, but I feel our rooms highlight this philosophy.

MI: The easiest way to improve things like a wardrobe or a piece of writing is to make cuts. What are the simplest edits a guy can go home and do tonight to make his place more stylish without spending a dime?

SMW: I was just talking to one of our clients about this the other day. To put it in wardrobe terms, whenever you need to clean out your closet, you’re best served by removing everything and then accessing each item as it goes back into the closet — or doesn’t. That way every single part of your wardrobe receives either your blessing or gets donated.

The same thing can easily be done with our homes. Items come into your house and get set down and they often tend to just stay where you put them. I will often strip one of our rooms at a house — clear off the tables, remove any accessories, even take the art off the walls — and then thoughtfully start restyling the room.

If your goal is to make things more stylish, you might need to get ruthless with your editing. Hanging onto college mementos can give your place too much of a dorm feeling. I often use this quote from English textile designer William Morris as a guide: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

7 Responses

Karen T. · February 7, 2015 at 20:05:21 · →

Oh, wow! Love this post and love Scott’s design aesthetic..

tammy j · February 7, 2015 at 20:20:18 · →

well…
it was fun to hear how you’re bringing it all together.
and one should never underestimate quality. everything you do has quality written all over it.
you’ve been a man of quality from the start!
i love your traditional rooms … but always with a little kick.
the painted drink cart in a bright color… the crystal … there are any number of things in your rooms that make the feminine heart welcome as well.
i’m so happy for your creative adventure! can’t wait to see more.
thanks for sharing it on your blog.

Kathy Slimmer · February 7, 2015 at 21:59:03 · →

So excited to hear the news! Love Ralph, love you. We are all in for a great shopping experience. Love your masculine looks. My husband and I are Scottish so tartans abound! Can’t wait to see your looks. The mix of blue and white, tartan, leather that you have done in the past are favorites.

Wendy · February 7, 2015 at 23:36:37 · →

So excited also to hear of this great news! I love decorating the Ralph Lauren look and love Tartan’s!! I love how you bring everything together Scott and adore every room that you have decorated and so I am very excited about your new upcoming store! Wishing you the best!

Laraine Larkin · February 10, 2015 at 13:59:08 · →

So, so happy for you! Love everything you do.

Roderick Taylor · February 13, 2015 at 04:09:56 · →

If you can’t do it then it probably isn’t worth happening. I look forward to seeing the results.

The Lady’s Life · February 13, 2015 at 17:04:29 · →

Scot this is really exciting! I adore the Ralph Lauren look, but have been disappointed for many years that the brand seems to have lost its focus, which opens up a real opportunity. Jennings and I have talked at length about who will seize that opportunity and run with it. I should have known it would be you! I also think RL home has weird pricing–so excessive and unrelated to common sense that it just leaves me shaking my head and wondering what they are thinking. I’m excited for your new venture and wish you the best! xo, N.